Le The Value of a “soul”
I feel compelled to write this note to honor a man who passed away recently. His name is Gerald Russell. To say I knew him well would be a stretch. I knew Gerald for 1 day. I met him at a gas station 2 days before Easter and struck up a conversation with him. He was quite the colorful character. Not exactly the image in the obituaries. Gerald had a long ponytail along with his large hat, his beard, and motorcycle jacket. We had things in common( I’ve been told I am a character also) and his demeanor was happy go lucky in spite of his “trials”.
He told me he was going through his 2nd divorce. He was on dialysis and had several physical “issues”. He had his share of ups and downs but managed to smile in spite of it. As we parted I spun around and barked to Gerald,” Hey, you need to go to church on Sunday”. I was not sure what Gerald believed if anything but when he answered “Oh yeah? ” I said ” It’s Easter for crying out loud!” Gerald asked where I went to church and I told him Journey Church. He had heard of it and I told him he would fit right in. We have lots of “characters” there. Heck, even the pastor rides a Harley I told him. He said if I was going he would show up.
Gerald was in church that Sunday with his tie on and all “spiffed” up. After church I asked him what he was doing for Easter and he said no plans. Since he had no plans with family I invited him over to our house. I have 5 grown kids and they all enjoyed Gerald being with us. We spent the whole day telling stories cooking and eating and being a family. Gerald had his dogs ( his kids) in the truck. He loved animals. I found out his parents were missionaries. He had a lot of stories about growing up and travelling Europe. When he left that evening he thanked me many times. We made plans to meet next week at church but I could not go because my son got his call to Marine boot camp and I drove him on that next Sunday to the bus. Gerald was in church though.
That week I was driving up Hwy 51 and saw a badly smashed Gold Wing motorcycle. ( the kind Gerald said he rode) I had a sinking feeling as I came on this scene soon after it had happened. The news said it was a 53 year old Merrill man. I could not get his name from the sheriff dept. I figured I would hear about it on the news. I never did. All I knew was, he told me he was staying with “the bird man,
Wally Touchette (another valuable soul) . I was busy and tried to find Wally’s house but no luck.
Several days later I finally tracked down Wally’s house and asked where Gerald was. Wally told me he had died. I was stunned. It was happy/sad for me because I knew Gerald had faith in what Jesus had done on the cross for him. God valued Gerald so much He sent His son to die for him.
I know he is with God and I am thankful I could bless him with a day with our family. Gerald was a man Jesus cared for and so did I. I did not know him long enough to find any faults in him and that is just how God is,,the difference is,, God knows “everything” about us and still loves us unconditionally! Want to know the value of a soul? Look at the cross. See you again someday Gerald. ( hope not too soon!)
Pat Blakeslee
Merrill
Dear Editor,
Law Enforcement Week 2013
May 12 – 18 is National Police Week, aka Law Enforcement Week. Established in 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls is National Police Week. Particular attention and recognition is given to those officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.
Every year, Citizens for Decency of Lincoln County (CDLC) acknowledges these men and women by distributing blue ribbons to the community and asking the citizenry to display them to show honor and respect for our officers who stand guard, night and day, to protect us through enforcement of our laws.
CDLC appreciates all our officers, locally and across this great nation, for protecting the communities they serve.
If you see blue ribbons being distributed at your church or anywhere in the community, please take one, display it and say a prayer for our law enforcement.
Respectfully,
Citizens for Decency of Lincoln County
Editor:
Lincoln County Board votes to build Grandstand instead of Expo Center- WHY???
The board voted 10-7 to build a Grandstand. They will tell you it’s 1 million vs. 7 million dollars. True, but the expo center can be built in stages, possible grants available in 2014 +, naming rights dollars, donations, room tax grants, sponsorships, and fundraisers, for a community enhancing expo center. The grandstand (seats 2500 people) is used by the rodeo, fair, and Labor Day 9 days a year, and is open to rain. An enclosed Expo Center (seats approx. 3500 people, and with floor open, approx 6000 +) can be used approx. 8 months a year (could possibly be heated, from profits later, for year round use), IT’S NEVER RAINED OUT! Can be used for fair, rodeo, labor day, concerts, races, trade shows, motorcycle & car shows, and events, veteran & youth groups, truck & tractor pulls, demo derbies,++++ etc.
The Expo Center would bring in jobs, new businesses, tax dollars, more money spent in local businesses in Lincoln County, limitless opportunities, more variety events, and people coming & moving into Merrill. Why not build it? The driving forces are from Tomahawk, Robert Lussow, Lincoln County Board Chairman, and he has the option of keeping certain things off the board agenda, and Jim Albers, who proposed to build the grandstand, both fast tracked the vote, at an 8 a.m. board meeting Tuesday, April 16, when most people work.
WHY THIS MATTERS – It’s been rumored for the last 2 years that the MDA may move the Fall Ride (brings approx $17 million to Tomahawk) out of Tomahawk, and not in Lincoln County. If the Expo center were built in Merrill -you get the picture. 4 of the 10 votes were members from Tomahawk, and it makes you wonder why members from Merrill would vote for a grandstand, instead of an Expo center that would benefit the Merrill community & Lincoln County. Do you think this is right ? Are you one of the people saying “Merrill’s the same old town, and will never change” ?
HERE”S YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ! Stop the Grandstand – Let’s move forward ! CALL the Lincoln County Board members; tell them you want an Expo center, not a grandstand, especially the ones who voted for the grandstand. CALL OFTEN, Call every board member, and attend next board meeting in May in Tomahawk.
The user group is trying to set up a town meeting in early May, to supply more information. Watch for where, and when.
IF YOU DON”T MAKE THE EFFORT, DON”T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE OUTCOME!
Mike Mensching
Expo Center and Merrill Supporter